23
votes
Transgender youths are targeted in Scouting America changes pushed by the Pentagon
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- Authors
- Ben Finely, Associated Press, Jamie Stengle, Associated Press
- Published
- Feb 27 2026
- Word count
- 1139 words
I am absolutely gutted by this news. My sons and daughter are heavily involved in scouting and have a lot of really close friendships in their troop/pack. I'm deeply frustrated by this capitulation, and the statement from the National org does little to reassure me that other,
worsechanges aren't coming. I've always been leery of BSA/Scouting America's close ties to the US Military (our Troop de-emphasizes some of the more militaristic aspects of scouting and is much more heavily weighted toward outdoor activities) and I've appreciated the relaxed but progressive vibe of our local council, and I'm worried that those things may be less of the norm that I had hoped.This is one of the reasons I worried to see so many people turn to the BSA/Scouting America when they included girls when the GSA has been trans inclusive for quite a while. How many GSA troops folded and will leave enby kids and girls and trans boys without other options.
How many of these orgs demand birth certificates to sign kids up anyway? Like what is the purpose of this other than the obvious cruelty which I know is the point...
I definitely understand where you're coming from, and if the only consideration had been my daughter then I would have been happy to have my daughter in the GSA troop at our church, but the reality of being able to have all the kids in one program was very appealing, lol. And Scouting America has been a really good experience for them - the cub scout pack we joined is very progressive, especially for our part of the country (I suspect it's because all the conservatives left for Trail Life years ago) and even had an openly queer cubmaster.
Nobody is asking for birth certificates when we register kids, and frankly I suspect my unit won't be following this policy. The point is, like you said, the cruelty of it and to be create a difficult situation around youth protection policies.
Oh there's no judgement for you as a parent. All the reasons you gave make sense for the choices you made. It's more the systemic concern I had.
TBH the GSA troops fold more to the Girl Scouts being run like an MLM with virtually 0 proper support for the troop leaders and a massive siphon of money straight up the ladder.
Also their attitudes towards dads pisses me off to no end. Sexism is alive and well at the GSA.
I have two kids, a boy and a girl. If I want them to scout together Scouting America is the only viable option.
At the end of the day, we abandoned both for being awful in their own distinct ways.
Our experiences with GSA have been quite different. More recently, my friend's daughter's done a lot more (and her council and troop have) than be run like an MLM.
I understand why you made your choice(s), I didn't say anything otherwise. I was even a boy scout as part of an explorer post as a teen (though my personal experience would not have me put my hypothetical children in BSA, personally). Most folks will make their judgements on individual circumstances.
Given the current circumstances, I guess one can pick their (child's) poison. Or opt out all together as you did.
Tbh the way Scouting America seems to be rolling over means it isn't safe for kids in general.
ETA: decently impressed by the response on the BSA subreddit. I'd agree that the organization isn't living up to their principles and seems to be misrepresenting things to their members